Mother’s Milk

The piles of odds and ends had been scattered arbitrarily along the rows of tables at the Antique mall. Stephen makes is way down the rows hoping to find something that he could buy for his mom’s birthday. Stephen was never thrilled of his mother’s birthday, as it always fell at the end of the school year and distracted her from every really letting him enjoy the end of school.

As the junk spans on for miles in this cramped warehouse of a store, a sudden tingle on the back of Stephen’s neck had him spin around. Along the back wall near the furthest corner set a bunch of what looks to be some old-time items from northlands or something. As Stephen moved close to the table it was the wooden looking mask that captured his attention.

The dull jade color wood had a metal worn nose guard centered between the eye slits. As if drawn by an unknown voice Stephen lifts it from the table to his face. Unnoticed by Stephen an elderly lady moves up behind him. “Finding everything Sir,” she asked. Stephen nearly drops the mask before turning to look at her. “I think I found what I’m looking for”, he answers back.

Stephen had for the past 12 years, from when he was six years old, been getting his mother odd gifts for her birthday. This would be one of the oddest gifts he thought while paying the three dollars and nine cents. The cashier was a large looking man, with the intricate details of a tribal tattoo of some type painted over his face blending into a full beard. Stephen thought little of all of this as he made his way home.

The time went by with no further thoughts of the mask. Stephen put the mask into a box and wrapped it in a bright pink wrapping paper. Hiding the object in his closet until his mother’s birthday. The day approached along with the end of Stephen’s high school days. A time he knew was going to cause his mother to be more needy and a little obtuse with what Stephen wanted to do.

Stephen was sitting at the kitchen table when his mother walked in. Margaret stepped into the kitchen with a smile. Her frame was about five foot two, short red hair that did not match due to the fact it was dyed. Her nose did have a little cute turn up and eyes almost a shade of dull green that was on the cusp of being pretty. Her petite body would probably have reached 110 pounds on a rainy day.

The small pink box that set on the table caught her eye instantly. “Stephen you remembered,” Margaret mumbled. Her birthday would mean the start of summer break. That time where she and Stephen would be able to laze around the house more often and spend some quality time together. Ever since Stephen’s father passed away from a work-related accident, she felt like it was her duty to be both a fun-loving father, and a nurturing mother. One was far easier to do then the other.

Margaret let her hands quickly unwrap the box and when she pulled the top off stared in disbelief at what was before her. Margaret was a fan of antiques and odd items, but was blown away by how interesting this mask appeared. Its color reminded her of a Vikings boat or along that line. “Where did you get this Stephen”, she said lifting it up in her hands and looking it over. Stephen just shrugged and seemed more interested in finishing his breakfast. Slowly Margaret lifted the mask to her face. As it caressed her skin her eyes blink slowly and then pulls the mask away. “I love it”, she finally exclaims.

As Stephen nodded, she leaned over the table and kissed her son on the cheek. Something Stephen felt was a little too personal and had to lean away to avoid the kiss lasting longer. The rest of the day was spent cleaning and finishing laundry while Stephen was at school. Margaret found a place right next to her bed that seemed to let the mask sit comfortably. “I’ll leave you here for a little while”, Margaret mused while she finished making her bed.

Night time had just fallen on their little sleepy town and Margaret was worried about Stephen. He was known to hang out a few times with his friends, but on her birthday. She slowly laid on her bed and was starting to feel lonely. It was so long ago that she was with her husband and had yet to even start dating. Her eyes closed and images of somebody that looked like him started to fill her mind.